Update from the Access Committee

Submitted by Ginny Washington, Senior Assistant Director of Student Financial Services at IUPUI and co-chair of the Access Committee

The Access Committee plays a crucial role in helping MASFAA members prepare students and families for success at our institutions. Its purpose and goal is to highlight proven methods for access to higher education.  To achieve this goal, we focus on two key areas. First, we work to create networking and best practice opportunities with partners or agencies who are focused on similar work as MASFAA, such as access to higher education, connecting with students, and barriers to access. We also research best practices that exist with partnerships, including researching the interest in organizations that may want to partner with us for this purpose.

The committee is currently working on gathering data to help define best practices in this area.  Each committee member is reaching out to their community to find those best proven methods and what partnerships already exist. We also surveyed the nine MASFAA states and gained some information about what some states are doing in the area of access and how some states have formed partnerships with community groups.  We would love to have more examples. If you would like to share your school or state’s partnerships, please email Ginny Washington.

As we move forward with the rest of the board year, our goal is to continue gathering data about access programs and possibly coordinating pre-conference session or interest session at the annual conference regarding our research, sharing best practices, and demonstrating how MASFAA members can form a collaborative relationship or partnership with local or state groups.

How can you help the Access Committee reach these lofty goals? We would be delighted to have other MASFAA members join us in our efforts. We would appreciate your input on successful strategies that you see in your area. Just sharing your knowledge about your community partners and your working relationships that have a proven method for access to higher education would be great.  And, if you have a passion for this work, consider serving on the committee. To share your feedback or to join the committee, please send your information to Ginny Washington. 

Thank you for all you do to help prepare students and their families for success!

Access Committee Partnership with Sinclair Community College

Submitted by Angela Johnson, MASFAA Access Chair

The Access Committee is excited to announce that in partnership with Sinclair Community College, MASFAA will host a FAFSA completion event to assist students and families complete the 2018-2019 FAFSA during the MASFAA Conference. 

This FAFSA workshtop will be held on Sunday, October 8, 2017 - 12pm - 2pm at Sinclair Community College-Dayton Campus, Sifferlen Health Sciences Center-Building 14, Dayton, OH 45402. Sinclair Community College is a short 5-minute drive from the MASFAA conference hotel (Dayton Marriott).

We need your help at this event:  FAFSA completion volunteers are need to help students/families complete the FAFSA. Volunteers should plan to meet at Sinclair CC by 10:30am to receive assignments and instructions to prepare for the event. The event will conclude at 2pm and volunteers should plan to stay until the event ends. The first conference breakout sessions begin at 3:15pm.
Please wear your school (or alumni) spirit shirts to the event. Sign up to volunteer on SignUp Genius using the link below.

VOLUNTEER SIGN UP: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0A4EA5A62AA7FD0-masfaa1
For questions about volunteering for the event, please contact Angela Johnson, MASFAA Access Chair - angela.johnson@tri-c.edu or (216)987-4213.

For questions about the site or specific info about Sinclair Community College, especially for students/families attending the event, please contact Matt Moore, Director of Financial Aid - Sinclair Community College - Matthew.moore157@sinclair.edu or (937)512-2960.

OHIO COLLEAGUES - FOR STUDENTS/FAMILIES ATTENDING:  Participants who need help completing the FAFSA are encouraged to register for this event at FAFSA Help Ohio - www.FAFSAHelpOH.org ; Click on the event date for this event - October 8, 2017 and follow the sign up instructions.


Thank you for considering adding this event to your MASFAA Conference experience.

Access Awards Application

The Access Committee would like to announce that the nomination/application for the 2017-2018 Access Awards is available. Deadline is September 8, 2017.

The Access award recognizes innovative ideas and programming in the area of financial literacy, and financial aid outreach initiatives targeted toward K-12 or post-secondary settings. This award is open to our state associations, financial aid offices, and individuals who are MASFAA members. The program selected demonstrate commitment to access and financial education, in an innovation program that has been developed within the past two year. This award is presented annually at the MASFAA conference.

Get the details about the 2017-2018 Access Award Application:
https://www.masfaaweb.org/docs/toc_whatsnew.html

Access Committee recognizes University of Michigan: College Wallet Workshop Third Place Access Award Recipient – 2015

Written by Virginia Washington

The Access Committee would like to recognize one of the MASFAA 2015 Award winners in today’s blog. We are featuring the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor and their program “College Wallet Workshop”!

Overview: The “College Wallet Workshop” was successful because the program allowed students to have the opportunity to connect the dots and see in black & white, on paper, a visual reviewing all the expenses they will incur as a college student. Adding to the experience of the event, students could view their college financial aid budget and pay for all their various required college expenses.

Target Group served:  The event targeted students who were admitted as freshman for the fall and came to campus to participate in a summer student support service initiative called “Bridge”. This program helps these students make the transition from high school to higher education.  More often than not, these students are the first in their families to attend college. Participating in the “College Wallet Workshop” provided them with the hands on experience to learn how to manage their finances.

Financial education content covered: The “College Wallet Workshop” taught students the basics of spending money wisely and to make good budgeting choice during their college career.  Students participated in real life college experiences like:

- Purchasing books                                - How to select housing

- Transportation                                     - Getting a job

- Paying Tuition                                     - Covering personal expenses

- Learning to balance your checking account

The event also included life’s “Temptations Station” for the lesson on “wants” vs. “needs” like:

- Starbucks                                - M-Den (apparel)

- Latest/greatest iPhone            - Cable TV –Internet

Interesting highlight:  Students gave some feedback saying the experience was “eye-opening” for them and it really helped.  Some also commented how they should not live the life of luxury now, but spend less and have money for other things that are important for the future. The idea of being frugal is not just to survive college, but it’s also being financially prepared for the road ahead. 

So as the saying goes:  What’s in your “College Wallet”?

Other Ideas:   While the students learned a lot from the event, so did the staff. Session leaders and experts came away with suggestions for working with the Comprehensive Studies program and plan to continue encouraging students to work with the financial aid staff to develop a college budget, talk through wise borrowing habits and persuade students to consider taking a one credit hour financial literacy course to further enhance their knowledge.  

Congratulations to the University of Michigan on winning the Third Place Access Award for 2015. U of Michigan won $250 to continue to grow and develop the College Wallet program.

To learn more about the College Wallet – Check the U of Michigan webpage at

www.finaid.umich.edu.

Interested in nominating your financial education program for the 2016 Access Award?

Check out the Access Award application at MASFAA website http://masfaaweb.org/docs/forms/pdf/2016MASFAAAccessAwardApplication.pdf and apply by September 9, 2016. Winners will for the 2016 Access Award will be announced at the MASFAA Conference in Kansas City, MO – October 2-5, 2016. 

If you have questions, contact Angela Johnson, Access Chair at angela.johnson@tri-c.edu or (216) 987-4213.

Access Committee recognizes Moberley Area Community College: UCAN2 as Second Place Access Award Recipient – 2015

Written by Donna Holubik

Moberly Area Community College’s (MACC) UCAN2 program is designed to encourage middle school students to prepare for high school and life after high school.  The programs strives to provide students with the belief that college is possible.

MACC partnered with the Moberly Public School District so ALL students in the district are provided equal opportunity to engage in the UCAN2 program.  MACC provides 100% of the funding for this program.

UCAN2 is composed of three levels:

• 6^th Grade:  Students receive an exclusive tour of the college campus and get a first impression of college and the importance of making positive choices while in school.
• 7^th Grade:  Students begin exercises in career exploration.  Several speakers are brought in to discuss their story and provide students with a “day in the life” of their career.
• 8^th Grade:  The third and final year of UCAN2 focuses on financial literacy and high school preparation.  

Using a version of the “Reality Store”, students participate in the game of “REAL LIFE” by choosing an occupation and making decisions on real life activities.

At one point during REAL LIFE, students have the opportunity to have their picture taken in a cap and gown with the caption “I CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN” on the frame. When students realize “I CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN”, it validates the whole purpose of the program.

Congratulations to the Moberly Area Community College on winning the Second Place Access Award for 2015. Moberly Area Community College won $500 to continue to grow and expand the UCAN2 program.

To learn more about the UCAN2 program – Check the Moberly Area Community College webpage at www.macc.edu/financial-aid. 

Interested in nominating your financial education program for the 2016 Access Award? 

Check out the Access Award application at MASFAA website http://masfaaweb.org/docs/forms/pdf/2016MASFAAAccessAwardApplication.pdf and apply by September 9, 2016. Winners will for the 2016 Access Award will be announced at the MASFAA Conference in Kansas City, MO – October 2-5, 2016. 

If you have questions, contact Angela Johnson, Access Chair at angela.johnson@tri-c.edu or (216) 987-4213.

Access Committee recognizes MASFAP: Money Challenge First Place Access Award Recipient – 2015

Written by Shashanta James

The Missouri Association of Student Financial Aid Professionals (MASFAP) Early Awareness Committee ventured into charted territory that most Financial Aid Administrators often try…”why re-create the wheel.” Well, the Early Awareness Committee saw an opportunity to re-invigorate the long-standing Reality Store, which is a hands-on interactive budgeting program hosted by many states in our region.  The outcome of this re-created activity is MASFAP’s Money Challenge which provides a budgeting experience, exposing students to the cost of college, coaching and counseling through complex decisions and providing take-aways for use in the future.

The Money Challenge has two versions which targets youth and college students. The youth version addresses how students can learn to create and maintain a budget.  The college version explores the decisions that impact most college students; cost and scholarships, community college vs. universities or roommates or not.  MASFAP first worked with 23 McNair Scholars and will continue visiting college campuses throughout the state.  The second piloted event was held for the Emerging Leaders Conference where 93 high school students participated.

The Early Awareness Committee has been very intentional in utilizing feedback from the students in order to further enhance the foundation of the Reality Store to the growth of the Money Challenge that has been developed in Missouri. MASFAP implemented exactly what we should be doing as a profession – taking a program that was successful and modifying it for use in the future.

Let’s join together and offer MASFAP our kudos for delivering Money Challenge.  This program will be highlighted during MASFAA’s Conference in Kansas City, MO and look forward to you volunteering to help make this another successful event!

Congratulations to MASFAP on winning the First Place Access Award for 2015. MASFAP won $750 to continue to grow and develop the Money Challenge program.

To learn more about the MASFAA Money Challenge – contact the Early Awareness Chair at earlyawareness@masfap.org.

Interested in nominating your financial education program for the 2016 Access Award?

Check out the Access Award application at MASFAA website http://masfaaweb.org/docs/forms/pdf/2016MASFAAAccessAwardApplication.pdf and apply by September 9, 2016. Winners will for the 2016 Access Award will be announced at the MASFAA Conference in Kansas City, MO – October 2-5, 2016.

If you have questions, contact Angela Johnson, Access Chair at angela.johnson@tri-c.edu or (216) 987-4213.

Ready, Set, Bid!!! MSFAA’s Silent Auction

Submitted by Krissy Bhaumik, MSFAA President

MSFAA has a tradition at our winter conference.  Each year we hold a silent auction benefiting a charity in the state.  This year, the charity selected was Fostering Futures.  The Fostering Futures program is administered through the State of Michigan’s Student Scholarships and Grants office and provides scholarships to young adults who have experienced foster care, who enroll at Michigan degree granting colleges and universities and who meet academic and need-based criteria.

At any given time, it is estimated that Michigan has approximately 13,000 children in the foster care system.  The program reports: “A growing number of Michigan youth reach adult age while in foster care, and in addition to their lack of stable family structure and their impending housing needs, they have no financial resources available to attend college.”  Seventy percent of teens who emancipate from foster care report a desire to attend college, but fewer than ten percent of those graduating from high school actually enroll and less than one percent persists to graduation.

With the belief that heartstrings are connected to purse strings, MSFAA invited Robin Lott, Director of Michigan Education Trust, and Dr. Lisa Feinics, Life Skills Coach in the Mpowering My Success program at the University of Michigan - Flint to speak at the conference.  Director Lott provided an update of the scholarship program and efforts to raise money to assist our foster youth before Dr. Feinics shared her compelling story.  Dr. Feinics was placed in foster care at age 8 and had numerous placements over the next 8 years before she ran away to the streets.  But that was not where her story ended.  Despite the hardships and challenges that faced her, and maybe because of those experiences and for her daughter, Lisa changed her life's path and went on to earn a PhD in Neurobiology and Behavior from the University of Washington in Seattle.  Dr. Feinics worked as a scientist and an educator in the US and abroad before her passion brought her into her current position, where she supports current and former foster youth attending college. Her emotional and inspiring story had many of us in tears.  Her message: With help, our youth who have experienced foster care can do great things.  The Michigan aid community helped!

MSFAA members, schools, sectors and private businesses donated well over 100 items for the silent auction.  Items included tickets to a screening of Wheel of Fortune, an Amazon Fire tablet, a signed Jim Harbaugh University of Michigan Football, weekends away at hotels and resorts across the state and much, much more.  Even our evening entertainment, the Dueling Pianos musicians, donated their tips to the cause!  A special thanks needs to go to Kelly Schneider, MSFAA president elect, and her team for orchestrating the event.  When all of the donations were counted, MSFAA raised $6,323.87 for Fostering Futures!  This was the largest single charitable event and donation on record for our association!  We are happy that it is going to support an incredible scholarship for some exceptional youth.

Access of the Year Award Winners

Submitted by Steven Foster

The Access committee would like to highlight the winners of the 2nd Access of the Year Award. 

The committee that reviewed and judged the materials had the privilege to review nine noteworthy submissions.

And the winners are....

1st place- Missouri Association of Student Financial Aid Personnel "Money Challenge"

2nd place- University of Wisconsin-Madison  "FASTRACK-BANNER"

2nd place-Moberly Area Community College "College UCAN2"

3rd place-University of Michigan "College Wallet Workshop"

Please join us in wishing our colleagues a job well done on providing financial aid awareness and literacy efforts on and off campus programming across the great region of MASFAA. Each of the winners will be highlighted in an upcoming Access Spotlight post to tell you more about the programs.